Month: January 2016

Sexagesima Sunday Missa “Exsurge, quare obdormis” Sexagesima /sɛksəˈdʒɛsɨmə/, or, in full, Sexagesima Sunday, is the name for the second Sunday before Ash Wednesday in the Gregorian Rite liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church, and also in that of some Protestant denominations, particularly those with Anglican and Lutheran origins. The name “Sexagesima” is derived from…

S. Bathildis (Batilde), Queen: Missa “Cognovi, Domine” Wife of Clovis II, King of France, time and place of birth unknown; d. January; 680. According to some chronicles she came from England and was a descendant of the Anglo-Saxon kings, but this is a doubtful statement. It is certain that she was a slave in the…

Feria VI of Septuagesima: Missa “Circumdederunt me” The three Sundays preceding Ash Wednesday are called SEPTUAGESIMA, SEXAGESIMA and QUINQUAGESIMA, which mean, respectively, the seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth day, that is, before Easter. Why, from this day until Easter, does the Church omit in her service all joyful canticles, alleluia’s, and the Gloria in excelsis etc?…

S. Agnes Virgin & Martyr (Octave Day): Missa “Vultum tuum” As it coincided with her “octave day” a legend grew, saying that Agnes appeared on this day to her parents praying at her tomb, surrounded by a “bevy of virgins” (Introit), resplendent with light. “On her right hand was a lamb whiter than snow: it was…

S. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: Missa “In medio Ecclesiae” The holy Patriarch of Constantinople received his surname “Chrysostom (golden mouth)” because he was the most eloquent preacher and the most prolific writer of the Greek Church. He was persecuted by the empress Eudoxia and her courtiers. He died in exile A.D….

S. Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr: Missa “Sacerdotes Dei“ Saint Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, was a disciple of Saint John. He wrote to the Philippians, exhorting them to mutual love and to hatred of heresy. When the apostate Marcion met Saint Polycarp at Rome, he asked the aged Saint if he knew him. “Yes,” Saint Polycarp…

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul: Missa “Scio cui crédidi” Since the 8th century the feast of the conversion of St. Paul has been set apart by the Church to return thanks to almighty God for His act of grace in bringing the future apostle to the Faith. After the miracle of Christ’s Resurrection no…

SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY; Commemoration of S. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr Missa “Circumdederunt me” The venerated Abbe Dom Prosper Gueranger comments on today’s Epistle with these words: “These stirring words of the apostle deepen the sentiments already produced in us by the sad recollections of which we are this day reminded. He tells us that this world is…

Sunday III Post Epiphany; Commemoration of St Emerentiana, Virgin Martyr: Missa “Adoráte Deum” The Third Sunday after Epiphany is anticipated today because tomorrow is Septuagesima and there will not be room post Pentecost to keep this Office of Epiphany III. Today is also the last day that the Alleluia will be sung as we enter into the…

SS. Vincent & Anastasius, Martyrs: Missa “Intret in conspéctu tuo” Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon (also known as Vincent of Aragon) Born in Huesca, Spain; died January 22, 304. He was educated and ordained a deacon by Bishop Saint Valerius of Saragossa with the commission to preach (White). (Gill confusingly says: “As a young priest he served Valerius, Bishop of Saragossa,…

S. Agnes Virgin and Martyr: Missa “Me exspectaverunt peccatores” Martyred for her faith at the early age of twelve, Saint Agnes was one of the youngest-known named martyrs in the Communion of Saints. She was born into a wealthy Roman aristocratic family and was remarkable for her beauty as a child. But the true beauty was…

SS. Fabian & Sebastian, Martyrs: Missa “Intret in conspéctu tuo” Pope Saint Fabian was a layman when elected pope, a position he held from January 10, 236 until his martyrdom on January 20, 250. St Sebastian died in 288 under Diocletian. From the Roman Breviary: “Fabian was a Roman, and sat as Pope from the reign of the Emperor…

Blogroll

Posts by date

"Whosoever you are who introduce new doctrines, I beseech you to spare the ears of Romans! Spare that faith which was commended by the voice of an Apostle. Why should you attempt to teach us, at the end of hundreds of years, that which we never heard before? Why bring forward what Peter and Paul did not will to make known? Until this day, the world was Christian without your doctrine. Thus, I hold as an old man onto that faith wherein I was regenerated as a boy." St. Jerome

S. AUGUSTINE ON THE PRIESTHOOD

O venerable brothers, ye priests of God above,
I pray ye hear the message I speak to you in love;
Ye heralds of the Highest, ye shining lights of day.
Who beam with hope enduring, and charity's pure ray.

Ye do to God your service in His own holy shrine;
And Christ hath called you branches, Who is Himself the Vine;
O see ye be not barren, nor bitter fruit ye give,
If with the Root that bears you ye would for ever live.

The Catholic religion yours is it to uphold.
The world’s true light and ransom, the shepherds of the fold;
The walls of Jacob’s dwelling, the art of Life who teach;
Who judge the Church in meekness, who to the nations preach.

The Catholic religion is lost if ye betray;
The salt that lacks its savour serves but to cast away;
The path of life is doubtful unless the light shine clear;
Except the Shepherd watcheth, the robber draweth near.

The care of God's own Vineyard is given unto you.
That with the streams of doctrine its soil ye should bedew ;
The thorns and choking thistles should root from out the ground.
That so the faith of Jesus may flourish and abound.

Ye are the patient oxen who tread the threshing-floor,
The wheat and chaff with caution to part for evermore :
The laymen frail and simple, and all inconstant still,
Have you for an ensample to shew them good or ill.

Whatever they shall notice is grievous unto you,
That doubtless they will argue they must with care eschew;
Whatever they shall see you by holy deeds proclaim,
That they will reckon lawful, and free from sin or shame.

Since ye have been appointed the shepherds of the sheep,
Oh, see ye be not slothful, nor silent watch ye keep;
Be loud and plain the warnings ye raise when harm is nigh—
The wolf sees folds in safety with jealous rav’ning eye.

A threefold food the faithful have need of day by day—
The Body of the Saviour, to keep their life for aye;
The Word of due instruction, the which discreetly give;
The earthly meats that perish, whereby their bodies live.